Pa. officer killed in crash during pursuit

Officer William "Jerry" McCarthy was pursuing a woman driving with an expired license when she slammed his squad

Duty Death: William McCarthy - [Shenango Township, Pennsylvania]

End of Service: 05/02/2013

By PoliceOne Staff

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — An officer was killed Thursday when a pursuit ended in a violent crash with the suspect.

Officer William "Jerry" McCarthy IV, 60, was pursuing a woman who was driving with a suspended license when she crashed into his cruiser, according to WTAE.

Kylee Barletto, 25, was spotted driving erratically and fled police when they tried pulling her over. She made an unexpected turn and T-boned the vehicle McCarthy and his partner were in.

"The police cruiser was hit and knocked out of control and, from all accounts, the operator of the police vehicle swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle on the highway and drove into a yard and hit a parked car,” said State police Cmdr. Eric Hermick.

Barletto was hospitalized and is expected to be charged with vehicular homicide, among other charges, according to the article.

McCarthy’s partner, Officer Michael Lynch, was driving the squad at the time and was also hospitalized in fair condition.

McCarthy worked part time for the Shenango Township Police Department and did some work as a detective for the Lawrence County District Attorney's office.

"I aspire to be half the man he was," District Attorney Josh Lamancusa said of McCarthy.

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